• Mayor Alvin Brown congratulates Capt. Jack Scorby, who replaced Rear Adm. Tim Alexander Thursday as commander of Navy Region Southeast. Scorby, who has been selected for promotion to the rank of rear admiral, was commanding officer of Naval Air Station Jacksonville from 2007-10.
• Chris Quinn at the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce put out the call for people to send letters of support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “proceed with the solution to the navigational hazard at Mile Point.” Quinn, vice president of public policy and business advocacy, emphasizes the deadline for public comment is Monday. He said correcting the Mile Point impediment to shipping traffic will create 3,500 jobs immediately. He included a sample letter to send to Paul Stodola with the Corps at [email protected].
• The Women’s Center of Jacksonville scheduled its 16th Annual Celebration of Women Aug. 26 at the Deerwood Country Club. Executive Director Shirley Webb reminds supporters that 16 years ago, a group of women talked about starting a community-based women’s center to fund health, educational and other programs and services. This year’s event recognizes the 91st anniversary of women’s suffrage and Women’s Equality Day. The reception starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 8 p.m. It celebrates the passage of the 19th Amendment, Women’s Suffrage Rights, on Aug. 26, 1920. Information: 722-3000 or visit www.womenscenterofjax.org.
• MCCI’s Gateway Medical Center at 5238 Norwood Ave., will celebrate its opening from 2-5 p.m. Thursday.
• Gov. Rick Scott reappointed State Attorney Angela Corey to the Medical Examiners Commission, succeeding Jerry Hill. Her term began Thursday and ends July 1, 2015.
• Scott reappointed Eric Bryson, a harbor pilot from Atlantic Beach, to the Board of Pilot Commissioners. The term began Thursday and ends Oct. 31, 2013. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
• Winn-Dixie Stores said flu vaccinations are now available in all Winn-Dixie in-store pharmacies. Customers will receive the discounted rate of $24.99 when using their Winn-Dixie Customer Reward Card.
• The Jacksonville Women’s Business Center plans its 2011 AthenaPowerLink celebration from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Main Library. Information: Ashley Lyon at 366-6623 or [email protected]
• The WorkSource Professional Network will hear the “Top 10 Job Search Strategies for 2011” from 10:30 a.m.-noon Thursday at the Southeast Regional Library. Speaker is Tim Cirisoli with Right Management. Call Patsy Partin at 798-9229 or email [email protected].
• The U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday that two La Nopalera restaurants in Jacksonville and their owners have been ordered to pay 30 employees $934,425 in back wages and liquidated damages under the terms of consent judgments. The agreements resolve a Labor Department lawsuit based on an investigation by its Wage and Hour Division that alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage, overtime pay and record-keeping provisions. The department’s suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. It said that agreeing to consent judgments were owners of La Nopalera on Beach Boulevard and owners of the La Nopalera on Philips Highway.